8 Feb 2012

Fiji schools reopen after devastating flooding

4:04 pm on 8 February 2012

A Red Cross regional co-ordinator says most of the schools in Fiji that were used as evacuation centres during last month's floods have reopened.

Flooding and landslides in the Western Division killed eight people and forced more than 1,300 from their homes.

Mohammed Hafiz says half of the water supply and most road access have been restored in the region, which remains under a 15-day state of natural disaster.

He says the Ministry of Health is spraying houses for mosquitos and worms and most evacuees have returned home.

"Most of the evacuation centres were the schools so that has been actually going back to start. As per yesterday, the schools have resumed."

However Mohammed Hafiz says the flooding destroyed all crops and there will soon be food shortages.

He says five villages are under quarantine because of typhoid.